Kalinzu Forest Reserve near Queen Elizabeth national park
Kalinzu Forest Reserve is one of the forested areas in the western part of Uganda and it is now part of the thrilling forest for nature lovers couldn’t miss when planning to visit Uganda. Even if you want to spend a safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park, then you can get the opportunity to go and spend some time in the Kalinzu Forest Reserve.
Kalinzu is one of the few remaining natural forests that exist in Uganda and it is a few meters away from Maramagambo Forest and Queen Elizabeth National Park. The forest reserve was extended to the 147 square kilometers and this was done to make sure that the wildlife is fully protected.
As you take the trip to Kalinzu Forest Reserve, you will have the opportunity to tour the fortune teller who resides in the Kalinzu hills, and from here you will learn all about the historical background of the Kalinzu forest and the community around it. This is very interesting. The kalinzu forest reserve offers the visitors with the experience that surpass their expectations.
In Kalinzu forest, you will be able to see and enjoy the primates that are found in the forest, and these include the babies, pottos, and galagos. This is very much an interesting experience. You will find the sound of the jungle, especially at, so fascinating and wonderful.
Kalinzu forest offers a camping site which is situated in the deep forest for those who want to enjoy the clear views of the natural package.
While settling in the camp, you’ll be able to enjoy the human community and experience the natural wildness, which will give you a thrilling experience in the wildness. The camp is closely located amidst forests and this offers the additional experience.
Additionally, the kalinzu forest reserve provides the visitors with a large number of wild species. Currently, the forest reserve provides the 414 tree species that offer their users the knowledge of the wildlife experiences they seek. There are also 378 species of birds that will offer you a great birding experience. There are also six different primates as well as the more than 97 months, flowers, reptiles, and the 265 different fly species that will provide you with experience during the canopy walks.
Mostly, the forest reserve is known for its chimpanzee tracking, which is the activity that most of the visitors who come to the Kalinzu forest come to do. Approximately 300 chimpanzees are kept, and out of these, 35 are fully habituated, as was done by the Japanese company two years back. The presence of the chimpanzees has increased the chances of the visitors seeing endcenegered chimpanzees. Other places where you can see chimps besides Kalinzu include the Kibale forest national park, Ngamba islands, and Kyambura gorge, among others.
There are several trails that you can use to walk through the Kalinzu forest. These include, among other things, the following:
The palm trail is about a two-hour trail, but this depends on your hiking speed as you move through the woodlands to find the unique species in the national reserve. This 5-kilometer full circuit takes one and a half to two hours to complete and passes across a similar level area. Sightseers are rewarded with great tree species found along the way, the most famous and intriguing of which is the Flame tree, which is known for its huge, red tulip-like blazes that are believed to increase libido in women, the grand Dragon tree, and the Raphia Palm tree, which is commonly used to make mats, among others.
The water fall trail in the Kalinzu forest; The water fall trail is so large, with fantastic views of the Kalinzu woods, that it takes about six hours to complete and leads to the spectacular “kilyantama” cascade. This road goes through damp areas and sloping regions, with breathtaking views of the primate Kalinzu woodlands.
Visitors can also follow the valley trail, which is very interesting. This trail takes around 4 hours and offers great views of the gorgeous steep slopes of the right valley with the green forest canopy, as well as opportunities to see a variety of wildlife.
Getting to Kalinzu forest reserve
Kalinzu Forest Reserve can be reached by road transport from Kampala transport terminal, which takes five hours. Furthermore, depending on the season, tolls range from 10,000 to 12,000 Uganda shillings. Guests disembark in Butare and walk a short distance to the Kalinzu woodland hold. It’s also fun to take a stroll to the guests’ gathering while listening to the trees in the woods and the fluttering tweets of the woodland birds. This remote hideaway is located in western Uganda, about a five-hour journey from Kampala. You can drive from Kampala to Bushenyi through Masaka-Mbarara and then Bushenyi.
A trip to the Kalinzu backwoods can be combined with untamed life safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park, allowing you to have the best of both worlds. Taking everything into account, the unusual Kalinzu Forest preserve allows visitors to examine a fraction of the primate species, woodland birds, butterflies, tree species, and typical attractions like cascades, in addition to other well-known sites that offer nature walks or climbing safaris.
